Engaging Small Businesses Working on High-Tech, High-Impact Ideas
DES MOINES – The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) National SBIR Road Tour is coming to Des Moines, Iowa, May 22, as part of a 16-stop tour to connect entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country’s largest source of early stage funding – the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Also known as America’s Seed Fund, the SBIR/STTR programs focus on next generation research & development and is led by the SBA with 11 participating federal agencies.
“Every year, we meet entrepreneurs from around the country looking to turn their big idea into another great American innovation story. We are committed to supporting America’s small businesses owners wherever they are,” SBA Administrator Linda McMahon said. “This tour reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that these innovators are aware of SBA’s resources to help them reach that goal.”
The SBIR Road Tour plays an important role in increasing engagement with entrepreneurial ecosystems across the country and building greater networks to support the creation of small businesses focusing on high-impact research.
“We’re experiencing phenomenal growth in biobased chemicals, ag tech, vaccines, immunotherapeutics and medical device innovation in the state of Iowa,” says Anne Price, Iowa Innovation Corporation’s SBIR/STTR Program Manager. “A number of businesses have been invited to be a part of our Success Panel discussion at this event. N-Sense, Parametric Studio, PowerPollen, StarrMatica Learning Systems and Viewpoint Molecular Targeting represent just a few of the local success stories. These five Iowa companies collectively received $7.4m in federal and state grant funding due, in part, to our outreach program.”
The Des Moines stop will be hosted by Iowa Innovation Corporation, a local organization involved in supporting entrepreneurs in next generation research and development. Program managers from the participating federal agencies will conduct one-on-one meetings with small businesses, take part in targeted panels, discuss technology areas, and share insights into how the agencies make funding decisions.
The SBIR/STTR programs provide over $3 billion in early stage funding to small businesses each year in a wide variety of technology areas such as unmanned systems, advanced materials, health, cybersecurity and defense. The SBIR/STTR programs execute over 5,000 new awards annually, which allow innovators to advance new technologies and have contributed to the creation of thousands of jobs.
Small technology firms, innovators, scientists or researchers seeking more information on the SBIR Road Tour, including a schedule of stops and participating agencies should visit: www.sbirroadtour.com
For more information about SBIR/STTR programs in Iowa visit www.iicorp.com
Press Release from Iowa Innovation Corporation
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